Maid grant: Review use of property annual value as gauge Published on Jun 26, 2013

I WAS delighted when the Finance Minister announced during last year's Budget that there would be a Foreign Domestic Worker Grant for households with elderly or disabled members, to help them hire a maid.

I applied for the grant and was optimistic I would qualify as I am caring for my ailing 83-year-old mother.

I was pleased with the empathy shown by the staff of the Agency for Integrated

Care, but was disappointed that my application was rejected on the grounds that the annual value of my landed property exceeded the ceiling of $13,000.

My semi-detached house was bought for just $125,000 in 1977. The fact that its annual value is now $38,400 is purely academic because as an owner-occupier, I do not earn any rental income.

Being a retiree, I live on my life savings, and support my elderly mother and four other members of my immediate family.

I hope the relevant authorities will show some compassion as I am sure there are other retirees in a similar situation.

Munir Shah

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